The Relationship between Identity and Higher Power Belief among AA Members: Based on the Narratives of Alcoholics in Japan

In this study, the relationship between identity reconstruction and belief in a Higher Power among eight Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) members was investigated using semi-structured interviews and narrative analysis. The findings revealed three types of perceptions of a Higher Power among AA members: an Awakening Type, a Follower Type, and a Re-evaluation Type. The results also indicated that interactions among the three types mentioned above and a sense of belonging to the AA-organization play crucial roles in the formation of new identities. It is suggested by this study that the reconstructed personal identities formed through AA, combined with the three types of perceptions, lead to evaluations that surpass the types. The findings emphasize the importance of the connection between belief in a Higher Power within the AA framework and identity reconstruction in the recovery process of the alcoholics.